Feature Photo: Aerial view of the land next to Texas A&M University-San Antonio that is being acquired by University Health from SouthStar Communities. Image: Google Earth/VBX Graphic.
Posted: 9-30-2021
by Adolfo Pesquera
San Antonio (Bexar County) — University Health announced this week its plans to acquire a 68-acre site near Texas A&M University-San Antonio for a future medical facility.
This marks the third major real estate acquisition that the Bexar County Hospital District Board of Managers has made in Bexar County to prepare for future expansions of its healthcare network.
In April, VBX reported that the Board of Managers acquired 42.5 acres from Retama Park in northeast Bexar County. In addition, VBX reported in September 2020 that University Health acquired 32.2 acres in far west Bexar County at Shaenfield Road and West Loop 1604 North.
There are no immediate plans to construct hospitals at any of the three sites, however, the Board of Managers wanted to ensure the availability of land in anticipation of future demand.
The latest acquisition is the first by University Health in south Bexar County and it is located by the intersection of Jaquar Parkway and South Zarzamora Street. It is on land that the TAMU System controlled and to which development rights were granted to SouthStar Communities; it is their mandate to develop a 600-acre master planned community known as VIDA.
On Tuesday, the Board of Managers unanimously approved the expenditure of $10.4 million for the land buy.
In a prepared statement, University Health stated, “This acquisition is an important part of University Health’s growth strategy in response to the increase in Bexar County population that is expected to rise at an even faster pace over the next 10 years, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and Texas Demographic Center. University Health is acquiring property in a timely manner to assure the potential of future growth. No timelines have been set with regard to design and construction services of facilities.”
Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson, president of TAMU-San Antonio, said the shared entry at Zarzamora will serve as a prominent gateway for new development and is symbolic of the possibilities for health-science education and interdisciplinary research between University Health and A&M-San Antonio.
“With this new site, the south Side and surrounding communities will have easier access to critical world-class healthcare,” Teniente-Matson said in a joint statement.
Thad Rutherford, president and CEO of SouthStar Communities, said, “We’re thrilled to welcome University Health to VIDA and to the South Side community. Their presence affirms VIDA’s community pillars of wellbeing, artful living, innovation and connectivity.”
adolfo@virtualbx.com — This article was edited in part from a University Health news release.
